Elementary and Secondary School Planning Committee April 5, 2011
Prayer and Opening Comments : Dr. Rosemary Henry Words of Welcome: Carol Kostyniak
The format was presented and participants selected strands. Participants are listed according to strand selection.
4 strands: Creating and Building Relationships Jennifer Millson, Nardin Academy Denis Coakley, St. Peter School Thomas Fitzgerald, Canisius High School Anne Wojick, St. Joseph University Heights
Strengthening Current Programs for Mutual Benefits Ruth Frost, Nativity of Our Lord School Becky Krantz, St. Mary’s High School Joan Thomas, Holy Angels Academy Dee Oakes, South Buffalo Catholic, Trinity Catholic Academy
Dan Ryan, St. Mark’s School Dawn Riggie, Mount St. Mary’s Academy Tom Sullivan, Bishop Timon St. Jude High School Judi Nolan Powell, Niagara Catholic High School
Developing a Plan to Vision for the Future Bill Fleckenstein, St. Margaret School Laura Kazmierczak, South Buffalo Catholic, Ambrose Catholic Academy Matt Ciurczak, Cardinal O’Hara High School Reverend Art Smith, St. Mary of the Lake School
Each group spent one hour working on its strand. A summary of each strand report out /presentation follows.
Strand 1: Creating and Building Relationships
Prioritize Information and Ideas (Goals) from the March 15 meeting: Strengthened communications regarding curriculum
Design Specific Strategies: Start a monthly town meeting by discipline (subject). Involve department chairs, elementary teacher (one subject a month) Principals meet before hand to set ground rules. Look for consistency and cooperation. Set up electronic communication (wiki, shared e-mails) to share curriculum maps and best practices. How can elementary principals communicate high school events?
Design Specific Action Plans to Support the Strategies: Find a central (neutral) location to handle group Start with ELA or Math.
Design Time Line: Start in October to have principals lay out groundwork for monthly meetings.
Identify Persons Responsible to Implement Action Plans: Principals will make sure that meetings are run well and the information is distributed to others. Principals will divide out the subjects so that each high school hosts one subject and manages the meetings.
Identify Accountability Measurements / Assessments: Attendance at the articulation meetings Increased use of electronic communication between schools High school teachers share out at their school. Look at minutes
Identify Potential Benefits: More sharing of best practices
Strand2: Strengthening Current Programs for Mutual Benefits
Prioritize Information and Ideas (Goals) from the March 15 meeting: Develop standard expectations K – 12 for each curriculum area. Investigate summer school programs. Do research on non-core subject areas (study skills, instrumental music) Investigate innovative year-round schooling. Market schools in a different light.
Design Specific Strategies: Designate a specific high school or elementary schools to coordinate meetings with a specific curriculum – e.g., St. Mary’s High School, St. Mary’s Elementary and Our Lady of Pompeii for foreign language (Planning should include coordination with the Department of Catholic Schools) Form a K-12 committee to investigate summer school program and investigate grants to fund the program. Form an executive committee composed of 6 people (3 elementary, 3 high school, add other members if needed) for planning programs K-12.
Design Specific Action Plans to Support the Strategies: Form a committee to develop common placement exam for Foreign Language and Math for high schools. Communicate expectations to middle school teachers.
Design Time Line: Begin this summer – July 2011 and work through the next 3 – 5 years
Identify Persons Responsible to Implement Action Plans: 6 person committee: 3 elementary and 3 high school representatives with a diocesan representative from the Department of Catholic Schools
Identify Accountability Measurements / Assessments: Set a goal for enrollment increase – 1% each year for 5 years Better transition and performance for 8th graders when they take the high school placement exam Higher Regents grades Higher NYS assessment scores
Identify Potential Benefits: Increased collaboration K-12 Open communication Innovative programming Sharing of resources Student benefits Increased student achievement
Strand 3: Forging New Partnerships to Create K-12 and K-16 Models
Forging New Partnerships K-12, K-16 Priorities, with Strategies, Timelines, Champions, and Key Performance Indicators
Feedback on Preparation
Centralized at Catholic Center to be to inform Secretary, and be made available to grade schools upon request
Design reporting template (by June 15)
Collect Data ( August 15)
Announce Availability to K-8 Schools & Solicit Requests (August 16)
Pull Requested Data
Disseminate Data (Labor Day)
Champion – Dawn Riggie? Performance Indicators
Number of schools completing data request
Number of schools requesting data
Strengthen Curriculum
Informed by priority above, identify ways in which the junior high curriculum can be strengthened, in order to provide opportunities for accelerated learning in high school and beyond. Enlist support of high school personnel to evaluate current curriculum and make recommendations on the potential for providing a more challenging option for those students ready for it.
Seek out subject area volunteers from area high schools (Math, Science, English, Social Studies, Religion, Foreign Language, Computers, Art)
Assess the current accelerated program in Mathematics.
Identify possible subject areas where high school subject matter might be handled in eighth grade (Science?) and design a plan to move toward that model
For other subject areas, identify gaps between current junior high preparation and expectations of high school faculty.
Key Performance Indicators
Results of grade 8 NYS tests
Results of Grade 8 Algebra Regents
Results of Grade 8 Regents in other subject areas (Biology, Earth Science)
Champion – Judith Nolan Powell?
Leverage Higher Education Knowledge & Expertise
Enlist support of the seven Catholic Affiliated Higher Education Institutions in WNY and seek out their expertise in the areas of enrollment management and development/advancement, and engage their faculty & students in research and experiential education/service learning in the areas of Finance, Information Technology, Marketing, Public Relations, Counseling and Education
Letter to college Presidents from the Bishop recognizing the fact that Colleges are leaders in this field, and that our schools could benefit greatly from their expertise. Point out that there is a progression of students that move from our K-8 schools through catholic high schools and often to their colleges and universities. The health of the catholic education ecosystem is interconnected, and the stronger one sector becomes, the stronger we all will be. (June)
Prioritization of each content area. (June)
Identification of key K-16 volunteers to champion each content area (July)
Identification of key personnel and faculty in priority target areas.(August)
Outreach to key college personnel to request their assistance.(September)
Hosting of meetings (September through May)
Assessment of participants (Ongoing through May)
Identification of content priorities for year 2. (June)
Champion – Dan Ryan? Key Performance Indicators
Number of Participants
Number of Sessions
Satisfaction of Participants
Engage Catholic Health System
Enlist support of the Catholic Health System and seek out their expertise in the Health Sciences to share through formal curriculum or science enrichment opportunities. Seek out internship, volunteer and shadowing opportunities for students interested in the health sciences.
Identify key personnel in CHS (July)
Establish Speaker’s Bureau for lectures and enrichment (Oct.)
Work with HR to establish internship, volunteer and shadowing opportunities (Dec.)
Key Performance Indicators
Number of Guest lecture/presentations
Number of Field trips to Laboratories, etc.
Number of students participating in shadow/intern/volunteer programs
Champion – Tom Sullivan?
Strand 4: Developing a Plan to Vision for the Future
Prioritize Information and Ideas (Goals) from the March 15 meeting: Study demographics – study data Data is constantly changing
Design Specific Strategies: Request specific data from the diocese (the type of data must be identified) What is data telling us? – what community looks like, where it is headed Learn from other dioceses Develop new model prototype Develop a vision – services for larger community – not just Pre-K – 8 or Pre-K – 12.
Design Specific Action Plans to Support the Strategies: Study the roots of Catholic education in the Diocese of Buffalo to see how we built a successful system of education in the past Mold Catholic education to fit the needs of our changing families How can we create something brand new using the best of what we have? Generations of Faith – model – educate parents / adults at the same time as the children? Create various service offerings – school system with adult education after school and evenings - kids and parents learning together
Design Time Line: (Strand 4 ran out of time)
Identify Persons Responsible to Implement Action Plans:
Following the 4 groups’ presentations, Dr. Henry recognized the many challenges and suggestions. What are next steps?
Form an executive committee? – have one committee for all 4 strands? This was the consensus of the group.
Sharing today’s meeting – send to broader group – have a real strategic planning session to look at possibilities (broader group participating)
Current strategic plan – recommendations will address high schools as to partnerships with middle schools – academic component
Dr. Henry shared ongoing strategic planning information:
Catholic Schools Strategic Planning with seven Key Result Areas
Diocese of Buffalo
Possible next steps:
look at data to see where we are – (specific types of data must be identified)
have committee reconvene to decide who might be on executive committee – assign functions – forge partnerships, create relationships, work on curriculum
Share data on high school placement exams with elementary schools – where are strengths, weaknesses and move forward
Involve everyone for buy-in – get information in – circulate info – get feedback for better communication
Smaller groups drive communication – include more
Be committed – this is an obligation, responsibility, honor to work on extending, furthering Catholic education
Involve more – wiki, blog
Makeup of Executive Committee:
include a wide sampling of schools: large, small, and represent regions in our diocese. (no more than 8 people)
Include vocal people
Next steps as presented by the Principals in attendance:
The Executive Committee requires roles, duties, expectations and tasks.
The members who served on the Strengthening of Current Program Strand will develop the roles, duties, etc.
Dr. Henry will propose committee members
Continue consistent dialog with all principals
Start with the end in mind – use data to tell us some of the questions
What current programs could be strengthened?
Identify the specific data needed.
Meeting Evaluations: (sample responses)
“Glad we are all at the same table”.
“Encouraging that the 4 groups are in agreement”.
“No shortage of conversation – hungry to share”.
“Encouraging that we are willing to face the future for Catholic education”.
“Applaud Dr. Henry on group management and format – giving us questions and a format to follow”.
“Very encouraging – common goal – what is best for Catholic education”.
“We had very thoughtful discussions – to the benefit of all of us working after a long day at work thinking about hard topics”.
April 5, 2011 Minutes
Elementary and Secondary School Planning Committee
April 5, 2011
Prayer and Opening Comments : Dr. Rosemary Henry
Words of Welcome: Carol Kostyniak
The format was presented and participants selected strands. Participants are listed according to strand selection.
4 strands:
Creating and Building Relationships
Jennifer Millson, Nardin Academy
Denis Coakley, St. Peter School
Thomas Fitzgerald, Canisius High School
Anne Wojick, St. Joseph University Heights
Strengthening Current Programs for Mutual Benefits
Ruth Frost, Nativity of Our Lord School
Becky Krantz, St. Mary’s High School
Joan Thomas, Holy Angels Academy
Dee Oakes, South Buffalo Catholic, Trinity Catholic Academy
Dan Ryan, St. Mark’s School
Dawn Riggie, Mount St. Mary’s Academy
Tom Sullivan, Bishop Timon St. Jude High School
Judi Nolan Powell, Niagara Catholic High School
Developing a Plan to Vision for the Future
Bill Fleckenstein, St. Margaret School
Laura Kazmierczak, South Buffalo Catholic, Ambrose Catholic Academy
Matt Ciurczak, Cardinal O’Hara High School
Reverend Art Smith, St. Mary of the Lake School
Each group spent one hour working on its strand. A summary of each strand report out /presentation follows.
Strand 1: Creating and Building Relationships
Prioritize Information and Ideas (Goals) from the March 15 meeting:
Strengthened communications regarding curriculum
Design Specific Strategies:
Start a monthly town meeting by discipline (subject).
Involve department chairs, elementary teacher (one subject a month)
Principals meet before hand to set ground rules.
Look for consistency and cooperation.
Set up electronic communication (wiki, shared e-mails) to share curriculum maps and best practices.
How can elementary principals communicate high school events?
Design Specific Action Plans to Support the Strategies:
Find a central (neutral) location to handle group
Start with ELA or Math.
Design Time Line:
Start in October to have principals lay out groundwork for monthly meetings.
Identify Persons Responsible to Implement Action Plans:
Principals will make sure that meetings are run well and the information is distributed to others.
Principals will divide out the subjects so that each high school hosts one subject and manages the meetings.
Identify Accountability Measurements / Assessments:
Attendance at the articulation meetings
Increased use of electronic communication between schools
High school teachers share out at their school.
Look at minutes
Identify Potential Benefits:
More sharing of best practices
Strand2: Strengthening Current Programs for Mutual Benefits
Prioritize Information and Ideas (Goals) from the March 15 meeting:
Develop standard expectations K – 12 for each curriculum area.
Investigate summer school programs.
Do research on non-core subject areas (study skills, instrumental music)
Investigate innovative year-round schooling.
Market schools in a different light.
Design Specific Strategies:
Designate a specific high school or elementary schools to coordinate meetings with a specific curriculum – e.g., St. Mary’s High School, St. Mary’s Elementary and Our Lady of Pompeii for foreign language (Planning should include coordination with the Department of Catholic Schools)
Form a K-12 committee to investigate summer school program and investigate grants to fund the program.
Form an executive committee composed of 6 people (3 elementary, 3 high school, add other members if needed) for planning programs K-12.
Design Specific Action Plans to Support the Strategies:
Form a committee to develop common placement exam for Foreign Language and Math for high schools.
Communicate expectations to middle school teachers.
Design Time Line:
Begin this summer – July 2011 and work through the next 3 – 5 years
Identify Persons Responsible to Implement Action Plans:
6 person committee: 3 elementary and 3 high school representatives with a diocesan representative from the Department of Catholic Schools
Identify Accountability Measurements / Assessments:
Set a goal for enrollment increase – 1% each year for 5 years
Better transition and performance for 8th graders when they take the high school placement exam
Higher Regents grades
Higher NYS assessment scores
Identify Potential Benefits:
Increased collaboration K-12
Open communication
Innovative programming
Sharing of resources
Student benefits
Increased student achievement
Strand 3: Forging New Partnerships to Create K-12 and K-16 Models
Forging New Partnerships K-12, K-16
Priorities, with Strategies, Timelines, Champions, and Key Performance Indicators
Champion – Dawn Riggie?
Performance Indicators
Key Performance Indicators
Champion – Judith Nolan Powell?
Champion – Dan Ryan?
Key Performance Indicators
Enlist support of the Catholic Health System and seek out their expertise in the Health Sciences to share through formal curriculum or science enrichment opportunities. Seek out internship, volunteer and shadowing opportunities for students interested in the health sciences.
Key Performance Indicators
Champion – Tom Sullivan?
Strand 4: Developing a Plan to Vision for the Future
Prioritize Information and Ideas (Goals) from the March 15 meeting:
Study demographics – study data
Data is constantly changing
Design Specific Strategies:
Request specific data from the diocese (the type of data must be identified)
What is data telling us? – what community looks like, where it is headed
Learn from other dioceses
Develop new model prototype
Develop a vision – services for larger community – not just Pre-K – 8 or Pre-K – 12.
Design Specific Action Plans to Support the Strategies:
Study the roots of Catholic education in the Diocese of Buffalo to see how we built a successful system of education in the past
Mold Catholic education to fit the needs of our changing families
How can we create something brand new using the best of what we have?
Generations of Faith – model – educate parents / adults at the same time as the children?
Create various service offerings – school system with adult education after school and evenings - kids and parents learning together
Design Time Line:
(Strand 4 ran out of time)
Identify Persons Responsible to Implement Action Plans:
Identify Accountability Measurements / Assessments:
Identify Potential Benefits:
Following the 4 groups’ presentations, Dr. Henry recognized the many challenges and suggestions.
What are next steps?
Dr. Henry shared ongoing strategic planning information:
Possible next steps:
- look at data to see where we are – (specific types of data must be identified)
- have committee reconvene to decide who might be on executive committee – assign functions – forge partnerships, create relationships, work on curriculum
- Share data on high school placement exams with elementary schools – where are strengths, weaknesses and move forward
- Involve everyone for buy-in – get information in – circulate info – get feedback for better communication
- Smaller groups drive communication – include more
- Be committed – this is an obligation, responsibility, honor to work on extending, furthering Catholic education
- Involve more – wiki, blog
Makeup of Executive Committee:Next steps as presented by the Principals in attendance:
Meeting Evaluations:
(sample responses)
Closing Prayer Tom Sullivan
Respectfully submitted April 6, 2011
Pat Trimper